Nassau County officers honored for saving 3-year-old boy from drowning in pool
SEAFORD, Long Island (WABC) -- The Nassau County police officers who saved the life of a drowning child were honored for their heroic actions earlier this summer.
Charlie Whiffen, 3, was rescued from his family's pool on May 25 over Memorial Day Weekend.
Charlie loves swimming and was enjoying the family pool with his big sister when his mother realized he wasn't breathing.
"I looked up and I looked in the pool and it just looked too still, like he was face up, it just looked still because he's normally running loops so then I just jumped in, freaked out, threw him out of the pool and he was having a seizure, mom Kristy Whiffen said.
He had somehow flipped under the water even though he was wearing a puddle jumper and playing with a tube.
When police arrived, they were met by the boy's mom who jumped into the pool to pull him out. The mother handed the child over the fence to the officers who then performed life-saving CPR.
He was then intubated and taken to Good Samaritan Hospital.
He has since made a full recovery and was there to thank the officers on Monday as the county honored them for their life-saving efforts.
The responding officers and medics were named Top Cops for August 2019.
"We have a front-row seats to a lot of life's ups and downs, and to be on the up end today, and to see a boy who is happy and interacting with his sister and his family, and a set of parents that are thankful and willing to be here and share him back with us is amazing," medic Scott Dipino said.
The team effort between the officers and medics made the difference for Charlie.
Charlie's family thanked the first responders from the bottom of his heart and said they are forever grateful.
Charlie was able to get back into the pool by July to resume swim lessons. He even won a swim meet at camp.
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